Horizontal banner mounting construction



Nov. 22, 1960 E. FREY Emu.` HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. l1, 1957 EDWARD FREIYNVENTORs SINON I NSSLLETm Ui? L. H'EY /waa ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1960 E. FREY ETAL 2,960,784

HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 11, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTORS EDWARD FREY 18% LET m Y L. HU'EY weg -ATTORNEYS HORIZONTAL BANNER MOUNTING CONSTRUCTION Edward Frey, Akron,Samuel J. Mollet III, Elliott J. Kies, and Guy L. Huey, Massillon, Ohio,assigner-s to 'Elie Massillon-Cleveland-Akron Sign Company, Massillon,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 11, 1957, Ser. No. 702,008

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to a mounting constructionfor banners and signs, -and more particularly it pertains to a tensionedsup-port for mounting horizontal banners on a single vertical standard.

In recent years flexible banners or signs composed of clotu or othersheetlike material have been adapted for advertising with increasingpopularity. For example, many oil companies have used such banners asadvertising media such as pole signs on filling station premises. ln theearlier stages of the development of flexible banners for use as polesigns, the banners were mounted between two spaced poles or standards bymeans of corner ties extending from opposite ends of the banners to thepoles. Such signs soon became undesirable for two reasons. First, thecorner ties deteriorated due to expansion and contraction caused bychanging weather conditions. For another reason, most filling stationshave a single permanent pole or standard on the premises for ap-ermanent sign instead of two or more spaced poles.

The next stage in the development of flexible banners or signs was theiradaptation for use on the single pole or standard. Such signs weregenerally elongated vertical members on which the advertising copy wasdisposed in one or two words per line with a plurality of lines to read.An example of a vertical sign of that type is disclosed in U.S. PatentNo. 2,764,830. However, vertical signs are not suitable `for alladvertising messages.

There is an advantage to reading advertising copy that is horizontallydisposed rather than vertically. It is easier to read more words infewer lines than it is to read fewer wo-rds in more vertically spacedlines. Usually a passing motorist in a given length of time will read ahorizontal sign quicker than he will a vertical sign.

A diflculty therefore arose in the adaptation of a horizontally disposedflexible banner on a single vertical pole or standard, i.e., a `bannermounted transverse to the upright. The necessity of maintaining aflexible sign taut and tensionally mounted to permit the materialforming the sign to contract and expand under varying weather conditionswas a formidable ditliculty.

Another pro-blem yinvolved the use of a knockdown or compactconstruction for shipping economy. The ordinary flexible banner is usedfor approximately ninety days. During that time the advertising mattergradually fades due to Weather elements and the sign is then replaced byanother sign of similar or different advertising matter while the bannertender means for mounting the sign is usually composed of metal andvtherefore is of relatively permanent construction.

830. rl`he Abanners held` in 'fixed positions lon opposite sides of thepole provide for better display of the advertising message that isreadable from opposite directions.

Still another difliculty in providing a mounting means Vfor ahorizontally disposed banner was the provision of 4member is inserted tomaintain the banner flat and unwavy during its use. Ordinarily thesleeves are sewn in substantially parallel rows so that the sleeve axesare perpendicula-r to the axis of the elongated banner. Unfortunately,in the manufacture of the banners, the hems are not always sewnuniformly and are frequently not parallel in the final product. As aresult, additional individual tensioning and -adjusting means must beprovided at each corner at opposite ends of each banner so that aparticular banner having non-parallel sleeves will nevertheless bemounted4 in a taut flat plane most advantageous for reading at a glanceby the passing motorist.

One more difficulty related to the problem of providing knockdownconstruction and individual tensioning means was that of providing arigid boxlike two-faced sign in which'the flexible banners or signs maybe mounted positively in place ina readily understood manner, preferablyWithout the use of tools of any kind.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide ahorizontal banner tender in which flexible sign units may be mountedhorizontally on a single vertical pole.

It is another object of this invention to provide a horizontal lbannertender in which a sign may be mounted in tension at spaced vertical endson a single vertical pole.

It is another object of -this invention to provide a banner tender for apair of spaced signs which is mounted tautly in flat planes free fromcontact with the mounting means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a banner tender forhorizont-ally disposed signs on a single pole having separate tensioningand adjusting means at each corner of the sign to sustain a flat readingsurface at all times.

Finally, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedhorizontal b-anner mounting construction which substantially eliminatesthe dificulties enumerated and which obtains the foregoing desiderata ina simple and effective manner.

These and other objects and advantages apparent to those skilled in theart from the following description and claims may be obtained, thestated results achieved andthe described difficulties overcome by thediscoveries, principles, apparatus, parts, combina-tions,subcombinations, and elements which comprise the present invention, thenature of which is set forth in the following statement, preferredembodiments of which-illustrative of the best mode in which applicantshave contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the followingdescription, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out andset forth in the appended claim forming part hereof.

The improved banner tender construction of the present invention may bestated in general terms as including an upright pole or standard, twohorizontal banner components, means for mounting the banner componentson the pole including a pair of elongated horizontal arms mounted ondiametrically opposite sides of the pole, the

arms extending from each side of the pole and having spaced alignedextremities, a spacer extending between aligned extremities of each pairof arms, the spacers being longer than the diameter of the pole, thearms having a bowed or arcuate shape and preferably being disposed in ahorizontal plane, a vertical support at each extremity of each arm, eachsupport having a right-angled transverse cross section, one bannercomponent extending tautly between the vertical supports of one arm andthe other banner component extending tautly between the supports of theother arm, each banner component having an aper ture at four cornersadjacent one ange of the corresponding vertical support, aspring-tensioned hook bolt at each end of each vertical support, eachhook bolt engaging an aperture on one of the banner components andretaining the end of the component tightly against the ange of thecorresponding support, whereby the banner lcomponents are tautlydisposed on the pole in parallel planes spaced from each other and thepole and contacting no part of the mounting means except the verticalsupports and the hook bolts.

The preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vertical pole having a pair ofhorizontal banner components mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the assembly showing the manner inwhich a pair of spaced banner components are tautly disposed on oppositesides of the pole;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the assembly;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the mountingmembers without the sign components;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of theunit shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view having the center portion broken awayand showing the opposite ends of one banner component;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View showing the manner in whichone corner of a banner component is attached to a vertical support andlocked in place by a spring-tensioned hook bolt;

Fig. S is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of theunit shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of the clampshown in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views ofthe drawings.

Referring to Fig. l, a horizontal banner tender, generally indicated at1, is mounted on a vertical pole or standard 2 on which a pair of spacedbanner components or signs 3 and 4 are mounted for advertising purposes.The signs 3 and 4 are composed of a flexible sheetlike material such ascloth. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the banner tender 1 includes meansgenerally indicated at 5 for mounting the signs 3 and 4 having a pair ofelongated arms 6 and 7 mounted on diametrically opposite sides of thepole 2 by attaching means generally indicated at 8. 'Ihe means 8 includea pair of spaced similar clamps 9 mounted on the arm 6, a pair of spacedclamps 10 mounted on the arm 7, and a pair of spaced clamp bolts 11having nuts 12 for tightening the clamps 9 and 10 securely on the pole 2as shown. The clamps 9 and 10 are preferably composed of angle orV-shaped members having legs 9a and 9b and 10a and 10b, respectively.The legs 9a and 9b are mounted with their edges welded at 13 to the arm6 with the legs 9b contacting the standard 2. However, the legs 10a and1Gb are mounted with the legs 1Gb welded at 14 hat against the arm 7 andwith the legs 10a extending inwardly forming an edge contact with thestandard 2. The clamps, however, may be mounted on the arms 6 and 7 asshown in Fig. 9 in which four clamps 9c are mounted similar to theclamps 9.

The arms 6 and 7 are provided with similar extensions 15 and 16,respectively, at opposite ends (Fig. 2). As shown more particularly inFig. 4, the arms 6 and 7 and the extensions 15 and 16 are channelmembers telescopically fitted together and secured by similar bolts 17.

The means 5 for mounting the banner components or signs 3 and 4 alsoinclude a pair of vertical supports 18 and 19 at the remote extremitiesof the extensions 15. A pair of vertical supports 20 and 21 aresimilarly provided at opposite ends of the extensions 16. The uprightsupports 1S-21 are preferably angle members as shown by the particularsupports 18 and 26 in Fig. 4. Each support 18-21 includes legs 22 and 23disposed preferably at right angles to each other. The legs 22 areadjacent and parallel to the arm extensions 15 and 16. The legs 23 areperpendicular to the legs 22 and to the arms 6 and 7.

As shown in Fig. 4, each support 18-21 is secured to the outerextremities of the extensions 15 and 16 preferably centrally of thesupport. For this purpose, the legs 22 extend across the anges of theextensions 15 and 16 and an alignment block 24 is secured to the leg 22,such as by welding, and inserted between the flanges of the extensions15 and 16 to retain the supports 18-21 vertical; that is, perpendicularto the extensions 15 and 16.

The outer extremities of the extensions 15 and 16 are preferably equallydisposed from the pole 2 and a spacer 25 extends between the extensions15 and 16 on one side of the pole 2. A similar spacer 26 is disposedbetween extensions 15 and 16 on the other side of the pole, as shown inFig. 2. The spacers 25 and 26 have similar end flanges 27 and 28,respectively, which are apertured to receive connecting bolts 29 forattaching the corresponding supports, extensions, and spacers togetheras shown in the drawings.

One purpose of the spacers 25 and 26 is to reinforce the outerextremities of the boxlike assembly of the means 5 for mounting thebanners. In addition, the spacers 25 and 26 are substantially longerthan the clamp bolts 11 so that the assemblies of the arms 6 and 7 withtheir extensions 15 and 16 are bowed or arcuate, each with its convexside adjacent the pole. Thus, the banner components 3 and 4 aresupported in parallel planes spaced from the pole 2 as well as from themeans 5 for mounting the components.

The extremities of the supports 18-21 are apertured at 30 (Fig. 7) toreceive an adjustable spring tensioned member or hook bolt 31. Each hookbolt 31 includes an outturned hook 32 at one end and an eye 33 at theother end. A coil spring 34 is mounted on the bolt 31 between the eye 33and the leg 23 of each support 18-21. As shown in Fig. 7, the hook 32 ofeach bolt 31 is disposed at an angle 35 of slightly less than 90(preferably Sil-) to the axis of the bolt.

Each banner component 3 and 4 includes a sleeve or hem 36 at each endwhich is provided by sewing one or more rows of stitches 37substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each bannercomponent 3 and 4 by folding over each end portion of the banner 3 and4. An elongated rigid member 38, such as a wooden stick, extends througheach sleeve 36. The members 38 and sleeve 36 are provided with alignedapertures 40 and 39, respectively, near each end, which apertures are inalignment with apertures 30 and hook bolts 31 on the supports 18-21. Thehook 32 of each bolt 31 passes through the aligned apertures 39 and 40and extends toward the leg 22 of the corresponding support. Theforegoing construction provides a twofold means for preventing the endsof the banners 3 and 4 from becoming disengaged from the hook bolts.First, the angle of the hook 32, being less than serves to retain theends of the banner components in engagement with the hook bolts 31.Second, the hook 32 extending toward the leg 22 of the support 20 locksthe banner between the bolt 31 and said leg 22.

The use of four spaced hook bolts 31 near the corners of the rectangularbanner components 3 and 4 serves as a means for retaining the componentsin flat, unwavy planes between the supports 18 and '19 on vone side ofthe pole 2 and between the supports 20 and 21 on the other side .of thepole 2. Each bolt 31 is separately spring-tensioned by its particularcoil spring 34 so that the forces applied to each end of each bannercomponent are dependent upon the tension applied to each bolt 31 throughits particular spring 34. Each spring- Atensioned 4bolt 31 providesindividual tensioning and adjusting means at the four corner positionsof each rectangular banner component.

The stitches 37 at veach end of each banner component are supposed to beabsolutely perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each bannercomponent. However, due to the human element, the stitches 37 may beprovided an an angle other than 90 to the longitudinal axis so that oneend 41 on the left end of the banner component 4, as shown in Fig. 6,may be crooked, i.e., out of perpendicular with the longitudinal axiso-f the banner 4. Thus, when the banner is mounted as shown in Fig. 6,the end 41 may be spaced from the upper end of the leg 23 by a clearance42 which is substantially less than the clearance 43 near the lowerextremity of the end 41. The discrepancy due to the crooked stitches 37,however, does not prevent the use of the banner cornponen-t 4 becauseeach bolt 31 is separately tensioned by its particular coil spring 34.Accordingly, the banner component 4 may be mounted and sustained in ataut, unwavy plane.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 in which a pairof extensions (channel members) a and 16a are provided and inverted fromthe position shown for similar extensions 15 and 16 in Fig. 4. With Itheconstruction of the extensions 15a and 16a, the supports 18 and 20 maybe mounted between the extensions 15a and 16a and the end flanges 27 ofthe spacer and bolted in p-lace. With such construction the extremitiesof the extensions 15a and 16a are in abutment with the legs 23 of thesupports 18 and 20, as shown in the cutaway portion of Fig. 5, wherebythere is no need for the alignment blocks 24, as shown in Fig. 4.

The arrangement of the members may be further varied in a mannerdifferent from the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As shown in Fig.8, the supports 13 and 20 may be mounted against the web of the channelextensions 15a and 16a rather than spanning the flanges thereof as shownin Fig. 5. Moreover, a spacer 44 may be composed of two portions 44a and44b which are extendible to any desired length and secured together by apair of bolts 45 in a conventional manner.

Finally, the separate assemblies of the extensions 15a and 16a, theircorresponding supports 18 and 2i), and spacer portions 44a and 44h aresecured together by the similar bolts 29 with the end flanges of thespacer 44 disposed against the web of the extensions 15a and 16a betweenthe flanges thereof and on the opposite sides of the supports 18 and 20.In this manner, the supports 18 and 20 may be rotated slightly about thebolts 29 to adjust for any deviations from manufacturing standards inthe other parts.

As was set forth above, the aligned extremities of the horizontal arms 6and 7, including their extensions 15 and 16, are laterally spaced fromeach other by a distance greater than the spacing between the centerportions of the arms 6 and 7 because the end spacers 25 and 26 are ofgreater length than the spacing between the mounting means 8 at the pole2. The resulting arcuate or bowed configuration of the arms 6 and 7provides a mounting means for the banners 3 and 4 which prevents saidbanners from contacting any portion of the banner tender 1 except attheir opposite ends.

In addition, by providing the separate tensioning and adjusting bolts 31at opposite corners of the rectangular banner components, each bannercomponent is sustained Itautly in place. The tensioning springsv 34 aresuicient to yield slightly to strong -gusts of wind acting upon thesurfaces of the banner components 3 and 4 without yielding sullcientlyto permit the ends of the banner components 3 and 4 to become disengagedfrom the respective hooks 32 to which the banners are attached andlocked in place against the legs 22 of each support `18-21.

The device of the present invention is an improvement over priorconstructions because it provides an effective means for mounting exiblebanners or signs horizontally for display of advertising matter on asingle upright pole or standard rather than between a pair of spacedstandards. The banner tender is of knockdown construction to permiteconomy of shipping and is adjustable for `use -with banner componentsof varying lengths, which components are of relatively short lifecompared with that of the members constituting the banner tender itself.

More particularly, the banner tender construction is a boxlike memberwith the banner components attached and comprises a pair of arcuate orbowed frame members, which members in combination with the individualtensioning hook bolts, sustain the flexible banner components in planesspaced from the banner parts and thereby prevent the banner componentsfrom being whipped against the parts of the banner tender and becomingdamaged thereby.

Moreover, the separate tensioned and adjusting bolts separately adjustthemselves -to any unevenness of spacing between upper and lower pairsof bolts and thereby retain the banner component in a at unwavy planeconducive to the best reading by a passing motorist. Such constructionalso yields to unusually strong gusts of Wind and automatically returnsthe banner cornponents to their original taut positions withoutpermitting Ithe 'banners to become permanently deformed due to such windaction. The bolts also compensate for any elongation or contraction ofthe fabric constituting the banner components due to changing Weatherconditions and thereby sustain the banner components in a yieldinglytaut position.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of ythe prior art, becausesuch Words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended tobe broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limi-ted to the exact details of construction shown.

Having now described the features, constructions, and principles of theinvention, the characteristics of the horizontal banner mountingconstruction, and the advantageous, new and useful results provided; thenew and useful discoveries, principles, parts, elements, combinations,subcombinations, structures, and arrangements, and mechanicalequivalents obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in theappended claim.

We claim:

Horizontal banner and banner tender construction including an uprightstandard, a pair of generally horizontally -extending mounting arms,means clamping the arms to the standard with the standard between thearms and each arm extending laterally in both directions from thestandard, the clamping means including a pair of spaced V-shaped membersmounted on one arm and another pair of spaced V-shaped members mountedon the other arm, said one pair of V-shaped members each having a pairof V-legs forming an apex spaced inwardly from the arm and having legedges attached to the arm, said other pair of V-shaped members eachhaving a pair of V-legs one of which legs is adjacent and secured to theother arm and the other of which legs `between the banner supportmembers on each arm, each end of each banner being secured to thecorresponding banner support member, and means on each banner supportmember for engaging the corresponding ends of the banners and forholding the banners tautly in place.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 86,481Burdick Apr. 4, 1905 8 Brumbaugh May 13, Fischer Aug. 15, Simmons Mar.20, Fitzgerald Mar. 18, Pistocco Feb. 19, Grifn Mar. 4, Castleton Jan.11, Berstein Aug. 23, Wood et al. Dec. 413, De Wees Sept. 26, AndresonMay 22, Austin Dec. 15, Vernon June 6, Frey Oct. 2,

